CITY GOVERNMENT
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF CITY COUNCIL
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

The regular meeting of Council was held this date at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison followed by the Invocation by Sam McCachern, Chamber of Commerce Chairman.

Upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Shabazz, unanimous approval was given for the Mayor Pro-Tem to sign an affidavit and resolution on Personnel for an Executive Session held today where no votes were taken. 

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AFFIDAVIT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah as follows:

At the meeting held on the 25^th day of May, 2017 the Council entered into a closed session for the purpose of discussing Personnel. At the close of the discussions upon this subject, the Council reentered into open session and herewith takes the following action in open session:

1. The actions of Council and the discussions of the same regarding the matter set forth for the closed session purposes are hereby ratified;
2. Each member of this body does hereby confirms that to the best of his or her knowledge, the subject matter of the closed session was devoted to matters within the specific relevant exception(s) as set forth above;
3. The presiding officer is hereby authorized and directed to execute an affidavit, with full support of the Council in order to comply with O.C.G.A. §50-14-4(b); 17
4. The affidavit shall be included and filed with the official minutes of the meeting and shall be in a form as required by the statute.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED: MAY 25, 2017

Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Alderman Johnson and Mayor DeLoach presented Lt. John White with a Proclamation recognizing the 70th Anniversary of the hiring of the Original Nine. They were joined by Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Chief Joseph Lumpkin.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Continued to the meeting of June 22, 2017, upon motion of Alderman Shabazz, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Marcus Lotson, Metropolitan Planning Commission appeared to briefly describe the petitioner's request.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Marcus Lotson, Metropolitan Planning Commission appeared to briefly describe the petitioner's request.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Marcus Lotson, Metropolitan Planning Commission appeared to briefly describe the petitioner's request. He stated this is something that the MPC has been addressing for quite some time in trying to deal with the parking concerns Downtown. 

Attorney Harold Yellin appeared stating this is the perfect opportunity to incentivize residential in the Downtown area.

Alderman Durrence stated he understands the City Manager has additional details that he would like to work on with this, and this is something that the City needs to start addressing and feels this is a good start. He agreed with the suggestion of City Manager Hernandez to continue the item.

City Manager Hernandez stated in the Parking Matters Study there is the establishment of a payment in lieu of parking program which he would like Council to consider the possibility of instead of a waiver which still incentivizes parking Downtown. He stated he supports the goal of incentivizing residential development Downtown, and is generally supportive of the project, but believes the payment in lieu of program would be better rather than the outright reduction of parking spaces. The petitioner should be allowed to satisfy its parking needs by contributing to other street parking and transportation improvement projects through the program.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Johnson, and unanimously carried.

Continued to the meeting of June 8, 2017

Marcus Lotson, Metropolitan Planning Commission appeared to briefly describe the petitioner's request.

Aldermen Johnson and Thomas expressed their concerns with this opening the entire corridor for rezonings. Alderman Thomas stated he has a great deal of questions that would need to be answered before he could vote for this.

Attorney Robert McCorkle appeared stating that portion of the road is zoned for multi-family development and it has been for sale for the past 8 years with no offers until this one. He stated the owners of Savannah Square and the VA Clinic are in support of the change. He continued stating he doesn't believe the site will ever be developed with its current zoning classification. The use would be for a family owned restaurant with made to order food without the sale of alcohol.

Alderman Johnson asked what type of restaurant would it be. Attorney McCorkle replied Culver's which is family owned. 

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman , seconded by Alderman , and unanimously carried.

Continued to the meeting of June 8, 2017 pending completion of traffic study 

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman , seconded by Alderman , and unanimously carried.

Continued to the meeting of June 8, 2017 pending completion of traffic study 

Ordinance read for the first time in Council May 25, 2017, then by unanimous consent of Council read a second time, placed upon its passage, adopted and approved upon a motion by Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Ordinance read for the first time in Council May 11, 2017, then read a second time on May 25, 2017, placed upon its passage, adopted and approved upon a motion by Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Tabled

Tabled

Upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Foster, and carried Reed Dulany was appointed to the Savannah Economic Development Authority with the following voting in favor: Mayor DeLoach, Aldermen Bell, Miller, Foster, Durrence and Hall. Aldermen Johnson, Thomas and Shabazz voted against the motion.

Alderman Johnson expressed his concerns with the diversity of the appointments to boards, commissions and authorities.

Alderman Durrence recused himself from the vote due to the possibility of a conflict of interest. 

City Manager Hernandez briefly explained the purpose of the contract modification to the public. John Sawyer, Water & Sewer Bureau Chief also appeared to brief the public on the process. He stated they are currently in the 3rd Phase which was originally signed in 2011. Federal funding was applied for and received and there is no other choice but to go through the process.

City Attorney Stillwell gave a detailed overview of the project.

City Manager Hernandez stated this will be a public/private partnership and staff is ready to move forward.

Aldermen Bell and Johnson were not present for the vote but stated they were in favor.

Aldermen Bell and Johnson were not present for the vote but stated they were in favor.

Aldermen Bell and Johnson were not present for the vote but stated they were in favor.

Announcements

The City Manager stated beginning June 1 the City of Savannah will resume regular enforcement efforts on delinquent utility accounts.

Alderman Miller expressed his condolences to the family of John Collins who was the co-owner of Savannah Coffee Roasters.

Mayor DeLoach recessed the meeting back to the Media Room to continue the presentation of the Municipal Broadband Strategic Plan.